inveterate

[ in-vet-er-it ]

See synonyms for inveterate on Thesaurus.com

adjective

settled or confirmed in a habit, practice, feeling, or the like: an inveterate gambler.
firmly established by long continuance, as a disease, habit, practice, feeling, etc.; chronic.

Origin of inveterate

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Latin inveterātus (past participle of inveterāre “to grow old, allow to grow old, preserve”), equivalent to in- in-² + veter- (stem of vetus “old”) + -ātus -ate¹; cf. veteran

Other words for inveterate

1	hardened, constant, habitual
2	set, fixed, rooted

See synonyms for inveterate on Thesaurus.com

Other words from inveterate

in·vet·er·ate·ly, adverb
in·vet·er·ate·ness, noun

Words Nearby inveterate

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use inveterate in a sentence

Due both to the mountainous topography of the county and decades of inveterate deforestation, Haiti is extremely susceptible to heavy rainfall and mudslides.
Elsa rapidly strengthens into hurricane, could affect Florida next week | Matthew Cappucci | July 2, 2021 | Washington Post
The revelation caused a stir, highlighting as it did Russia's ongoing and inveterate digital espionage campaigns.
The SolarWinds hackers aren’t back—they never went away | WIRED | May 30, 2021 | Ars Technica
The most ridiculous character in Pay Any Price may be Dennis Montgomery, who is described as an inveterate gambler and swindler.
Speed Read: James Risen Indicts The War On Terror’s Costly Follies | William O’Connor | October 14, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
An inveterate networker, he managed to get Tennessee Williams as the chief signatory on one letter-writing campaign.
Sean Strub: Sex, AIDS, Politics and Survival | Tim Teeman | January 27, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
This inveterate list maker also loved minutiae; in his copious account books, he kept track of every cent he ever spent.
Companies Discover Untapped Brainpower: Autistics | Joshua Kendall | July 21, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST

It gives the best outcomes to the most inveterate bad actors.
Argentina Goes to Court (Again) | Megan McArdle | February 28, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
Mr. Wright fails to mention that Mr. Scarff admitted under oath that he is a self-admitted inveterate liar.
Church of Scientology Details Error in Lawrence Wright’s Book | Karen Pouw | January 23, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
The taint was too inveterate to be eradicated; the evil was immedicable; Rome was already effete and moribund.
The Catacombs of Rome | William Henry Withrow
The lessons, where he had a long inveterate habit of shuffling, came under Norman's eye at the same time.
The Daisy Chain | Charlotte Yonge
Austria, on the other hand, had been an old and inveterate rival of France in the race for territorial extension.
The Life of Napoleon Bonaparte | William Milligan Sloane
Critias, though formerly a scholar of Socrates, became his most inveterate enemy.
Great Men and Famous Women. Vol. 3 of 8 | Various
Remember, they had actually ventured at night into the bush in spite of their inveterate fear of “the spirits.”
The Adventures of Louis de Rougemont | Louis de Rougemont

British Dictionary definitions for inveterate

inveterate

/ (ɪnˈvɛtərɪt) /

adjective

long established, esp so as to be deep-rooted or ingrained: an inveterate feeling of hostility
(prenominal) settled or confirmed in a habit or practice, esp a bad one; hardened: an inveterate smoker

obsolete full of hatred; hostile

Origin of inveterate

C16: from Latin inveterātus of long standing, from inveterāre to make old, from in- ² + vetus old

Derived forms of inveterate

inveteracy or inveterateness, noun
inveterately, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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